Helping all children become happy learners

Feeling Anxious

Feeling Anxious

Feeling anxious is when we are worried or scared about what might happen or what other people might think about us.

It is normal to feel a little anxious when doing new things or going to new places. We might also feel anxious when we have to do or say something in front of other people. We might worry that we will get something wrong and embarrass ourselves. This is OK.

Feeling anxious can sometimes be helpful. It makes us think carefully about what we are doing so that we get it right. 

Sometimes we can worry too much about things that might go wrong and this can stop us doing these things. This is not OK.

Sometimes we can worry too much about what other people think and say about us. This is not OK.

When we feel anxious it can sometimes help to try to think more positive thoughts. We might think about the things that we like and enjoy. We might think about how we might feel when we have been successful.

It is OK to feel anxious sometimes but we can try to think positive thoughts and carry on doing things.

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Helping An Anxious Friend

When a friend has anxiety there are lots of ways you can help them to feel a bit better:

Be a good listener: Simply being there for your friend when they need to talk, without judging them.

Learn about anxiety together: Find out about your friend’s anxiety so you both understand their needs.

Help your friend to talk to a adult: Sometimes, an adult can get the extra support your friend needs.

Be patient and kind: Anxiety can be tough, and your friend might need you to be extra patience and kind.

Do fun activities together: Doing fun activities can help take their mind off things and reduce anxiety.

Help them relax: Do simple relaxation techniques together like deep breathing or counting to ten

Remind them to take breaks: When your friend is anxious encourage them to take time out to relax

Celebrate their achievements: Praise your friend when the copy with their anxiety or use a strategy

Take care of yourself too: Take breaks and talk to an adult if you're feeling overwhelmed or need support.

A good friend shows kindness and understanding when their friend has anxiety and needs support. Being there for a friend makes a difference!

When I Feel Anxious

When I feel anxious I am feeling uncomfortable about something.

I don't always know why I feel anxious. I just do and this is OK.

Most people feel anxious sometimes. It is not easy to know when someone else is anxious. Most people will not know when I am feeling anxious.

Usually the best thing to do when I feel anxious is to tell someone how I feel. This can be a close friend or a trusted adult who will listen to me without judging me. If I can't talk to someone there are lots of things I can do. This includes:

imagining that I'm in a place where I feel safe and calm

thinking about a favourite book or film

breathing slowly

wiggling my toes and fingers

doing any activity that makes me calm

It is OK if I feel anxious sometimes. If I want I can try to talk to someone about it. I can also do things to help me cope with feeling anxious.

Notes on creating your own personalised social story:

Use the above examples to create your own personalised social story for the child. If you need to modify the language to support younger children ensure that the exact meaning intended remains clear and unambiguous. You may want to add photographs or pictures to illustrate the meaning or provide motivation to use. Alternatively, print out versions of the social stories are available below.

Feeling Anxious

Feeling Anxious Social Story
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Helping an anxious friend

Helping an anxious friend Social Story

When I Feel Anxious

When I Feel Anxious Social Story
Back to list of Social Story Examples